Kukla's Korner Hockey

(Scott) Walker, beginning his 14th NHL season, concedes he literally fought his way into the league. In his first three full seasons, with the Vancouver Canucks, he had 433 penalty minutes in 186 games.

“I have a little bit of a temper,” he said, smiling. “Sometimes, I forget what happens out there. I say some things or do some things I don’t remember.

“People say, ‘Oh, you’re not scared.’ I’m scared every game. You play scared. There are big guys out there and you can get run over. But that’s how you play—you can feed off the fear.”

“I don’t like being that hot-headed, but I think sometimes your faults are the reason you make it,” he said. “To be honest, it got me in the league and it has helped me stay here.”